Chapter 4
Several months passed. Olivia was being a- well, being something Julia wouldn't say in front of her grandmother. Julia cooked for Mortimer twice a day and sent leftovers with him to the hospital. He was beginning to put on a little more weight and was generally looking healthier.
Unfortunately the person who would have been most pleased with Julia's progress, Samuel, was not really in a fit state to do so. Julia frequently heard him shouting at himself or having an argument with thin air.
When Julia spoke to Frida about it, Frida just nodded.
“Uncle Samuel has always been... odd. Being stuck here hasn't helped him.”
“Stuck?” Julia asked, surprised.
“Yes, stuck. He died suddenly after eating a magic jellybean. Olivia and I did not see him until after we died. Olivia used to love to cook, but she electrocuted herself on the stove. I died in the fire. When I died I was not on speaking terms with my brother. I worried about my nephew. Gunther was not an easy man to live with, and Cornelia never had much of a backbone. That's why I stayed here.”
“Oh.” Julia replied. All of this information was rather shocking. Julia was pleased that Frida trusted her enough to tell her.
“Julia, you have to promise me not to tell Mortimer.”
“I promise.”
Frida hugged Julia. It felt like having a bucket of ice water dumped over her head, but she didn't mind. It was the first hug she'd gotten in a long time.
“Uncle Samuel has always been... odd. Being stuck here hasn't helped him.”
“Stuck?” Julia asked, surprised.
“Yes, stuck. He died suddenly after eating a magic jellybean. Olivia and I did not see him until after we died. Olivia used to love to cook, but she electrocuted herself on the stove. I died in the fire. When I died I was not on speaking terms with my brother. I worried about my nephew. Gunther was not an easy man to live with, and Cornelia never had much of a backbone. That's why I stayed here.”
“Oh.” Julia replied. All of this information was rather shocking. Julia was pleased that Frida trusted her enough to tell her.
“Julia, you have to promise me not to tell Mortimer.”
“I promise.”
Frida hugged Julia. It felt like having a bucket of ice water dumped over her head, but she didn't mind. It was the first hug she'd gotten in a long time.
On one of her days off, Julia wandered upstairs. Mortimer was out and she was drawn to the T.V. Generally Julia preferred books to T.V. But she hadn't watched the cooking channel in so long. Julia plopped down on the couch, quickly finding the cooking channel.
She was so absorbed in the show she didn't hear Mortimer walk up behind the sofa. He watched her for a moment.
She looked so animated while she watched the woman on the television cook. Much more animated than how she looked around him. He knew it was because she worked for him and he was older. That didn't stop him from being bothered by it.
Mortimer sat on the couch next to Julia. Startled, Julia stood up as if to go.
“You don't have to leave.” Mortimer said. “I want you to make this for dinner this week.”
Hesitantly, Julia smiled and sat back down.
“I can do that Mr. Goth.”
“Just one more thing Miss Shen. Call me Mortimer.”
“Fine. But you have to call me Julia.” Julia said, a hint of teasing in her voice.
Mortimer sat on the couch next to Julia. Startled, Julia stood up as if to go.
“You don't have to leave.” Mortimer said. “I want you to make this for dinner this week.”
Hesitantly, Julia smiled and sat back down.
“I can do that Mr. Goth.”
“Just one more thing Miss Shen. Call me Mortimer.”
“Fine. But you have to call me Julia.” Julia said, a hint of teasing in her voice.
It was Wednesday of the next week before Julia got around to cooking the dish for Mortimer. It had been an extremely long day. First the toilet in her bathroom broke, followed by Mortimer's toilet along with the tub in Samuel and Olivia's bathroom. Julia called the repairman and spent a long time mopping up rather disgusting puddles. Then Olivia yelled at her because the towels were scratchy. It took every ounce of self control Julia possessed not to explode.
When Mortimer got home from work, Julia was sitting at the table waiting for him so they could eat together.
They ate in silence for a few moments. “This is really good Julia.” Mortimer said.
Silence from Julia.
“What's wrong?”
Silence from Julia.
“What's wrong?”
Julia finished her food and walked over to the dishwasher, throwing her plate in. Before she could leave the kitchen Mortimer stepped in front of her, blocking her.
“Julia, what's wrong?”
“Julia, what's wrong?”
“If you must know, two toilets and a bathtub broke this morning and then Olivia yelled at me because the towels are scratchy!” Julia replied, almost yelling. “The towels are scratchy because I don't have a dryer! They have to line dry! And why do ghosts need towels anyway? On top of that, today is my birthday!”
Fuming, Julia pushed past Mortimer and went up to her room.
Fuming, Julia pushed past Mortimer and went up to her room.
When Julia woke up the next morning, there was quite a bit of light coming in through her window. She frowned. What time was it? Olivia was going to be angry. Julia got up and got dressed, going down into the kitchen. The clock on the stove read 10:27. There was a note sitting on the kitchen counter.
Julia,
Don't worry about Olivia. She's distracted, courtesy of Samuel and Frida. I turned off your alarm so you could sleep late.
Julia smiled. That was creepy and sweet at the same time.
Don't worry about making me breakfast. I bought you some Rice Krispies. They're in the cabinet.
-Mortimer
Don't worry about Olivia. She's distracted, courtesy of Samuel and Frida. I turned off your alarm so you could sleep late.
Julia smiled. That was creepy and sweet at the same time.
Don't worry about making me breakfast. I bought you some Rice Krispies. They're in the cabinet.
-Mortimer
Julia couldn't stop smiling as she ate her Rice Krispies. He actually remembered her telling him that it was her favorite cereal. Once she was finished eating, Julia washed her dish and went about her chores. When she finished cleaning the bathrooms,vacuuming all the bedrooms, and emptying out the refrigerator, it was almost two o' clock. Julia's stomach growled. She washed her hands and poked around in the fridge, looking for something to eat.
She jumped when Mortimer burst into the kitchen, calling her name. Why wasn't he at work?
“Come out to the garage.” Mortimer said, a grin spreading over his face.
Julia followed him out, wondering what could be making someone as grumpy as Mortimer this enthusiastic. He led her into the garage and pointed over to where the ancient washing machine usually sat.
“Come out to the garage.” Mortimer said, a grin spreading over his face.
Julia followed him out, wondering what could be making someone as grumpy as Mortimer this enthusiastic. He led her into the garage and pointed over to where the ancient washing machine usually sat.
In its place was a brand new washer and dryer. Julia pulled Mortimer into a hug.
“Thank you!” She said happily, letting go of him and going to look at the new appliances.
“They should make your job easier. They're a belated birthday present.”
Julia turned to look at Mortimer.
“Why aren't you at work?”
“I took the day off. I spent most of the morning buying these and bribing the guys at the store to come get them installed. Have you had lunch?”
Julia shook her head.
Mortimer grinned again. “Neither have I. Go change your clothes. We're going out.”
“Thank you!” She said happily, letting go of him and going to look at the new appliances.
“They should make your job easier. They're a belated birthday present.”
Julia turned to look at Mortimer.
“Why aren't you at work?”
“I took the day off. I spent most of the morning buying these and bribing the guys at the store to come get them installed. Have you had lunch?”
Julia shook her head.
Mortimer grinned again. “Neither have I. Go change your clothes. We're going out.”
Half an hour later, Julia and Mortimer were at Moonlight Point. They sat on the ground eating the picnic lunch they picked up from the grocery store. Mortimer and Julia chatted and told jokes as they ate. Julia had never seen Mortimer this relaxed before. She wondered what caused the change.
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking.
Later Julia and Mortimer watched the sunset together.
Once it was totally dark outside Mortimer lit a fire in the fire pit.
“Mortimer?” Julia asked.
“Yes?"
“Yes?"
“Is this a date?” The question had been on Julia's mind all evening.
Mortimer laughed. “Of course not."
“That's a relief.” Julia said.
Mortimer laughed. “Of course not."
“That's a relief.” Julia said.
So why didn't she feel relieved?